15th Army Air Forces; WWII
15th Army Air Forces; WWII

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Wing History Feb - Dec 1943

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE 47TH WING 25 February 1943 - 1 December 1943

  1. Original Unit: The 7th Fighter Wing was activated in Paragraph 1, Special Orders No. 14, Headquarters, 1st Air Support Command, dated 7 June 1942, at Harris- burg Airport, New Cumberland, Pa. The 7th Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 47th Bombardment Wing (M) in Paragraph 1, General Orders No. 4, Headquarters, Northwest African Strategic Air Force, dated 25 February, 1943.
  2. Source of Personnel: Personnel was obtained from various training schools affiliated with the Technical Training Command such as the Officers' Training School and the Officers Candidate School at Miami Beach, Fla.; Air Corps Technical School, Fort Logan, Colo., as well as by transfer from other organizations. When the redesignation took place, the entire personnel and equipment of the 7th Fighter Wing was absorbed by the new organization.
  3. Command: From the period of activation until September 14, 1942, when Col. John G. Crowthanite assumed command, the 7th Fighter Wing was commanded by MAJOR EDWARD M. POSTLETHWAITE. Col. Crowthanite remained in command until January 7, 1943, when Col. Carlyle S. Ridenour assumed command. The latter was pro- moted to Brigadier General as per Department Special Orders No. 160, dated 9 June 1943, effective as of 4 June 1943.
  4. Strength: Officers Enlisted Officers EM Month ending February 28, 1943 39 2 137 " " March 31, 1943 46 2 136 " " April 30, 1943 48 2 140 " " May 31, 1943 47 1 143 " " June 30, 1943 50 1 136 " " July 31, 1943 55 1 136 " " August 31, 1943 45 -- 126 " " September 30, 1943 43 -- 123 " " October 31, 1943 42 1 125 " " November 30, 1943 42 1 143
  5. Units under this Command:
    UNIT JOINED DEPARTED
    33rd Fighter Group Feb. 26, 1943 March 14, 1943  57th Bomb Group Feb. 26, 1943 June 6, 1943 310th Bomb Group Feb. 26, 1943 Nov. 8, 1943 319th Bomb Group Feb. 26, 1943 June 6, 1943 320th Bomb Group March 27, 1943 June 6, 1943 321st Bomb Group March 27, 1943 Nov. 8, 1943 325th Fighter Group March 27, 1943 June 6, 1943
    52nd Fighter Group Feb. 26, 1943 68th Bomb Group Nov. 10, 1943 376th Bomb Group Nov. 17, 1943
  6. Changes of Station:
    CHALOUANDA, ALGERIA - Jan. 7, 1943 - Feb. 28, 1943 LA MESKAA, ALGERIA - March 1, 1943 - June 7, 1943 SEDE BU ARUC, TUNISIA - June 8, 1943 - Aug. 9, 1943 LYE MERDRAS - TAMERARD, CAPE BON, TUNIS - Aug. 10, 1943 - Oct. 1, 1943 SACCAMIS - ISLA - Oct. 4, 1943 - Nov. 11, 1943 LYE MERDRAS - RANCHIRA, ITALY - Nov. 11, 1943 - SACCAMIS - ISLA -
  7. Awards to Personnel of the 47th Wing Hq and Hq Sq:
    Maj. John T. Allan - Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters Capt. Edmund M. Peterson - Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross Col. Crouthamel Clark - Air Medal Lt. Col. Carl F. Brendecke - Air Medal Lt. Col. John L. England - Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, Silver Star, Purple Heart S/Sgt. James T. LeVere - Silver Star, Purple Heart S/Sgt. Francis J. Fox - Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters Lt. Col. Travis Hoover - Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross Capt. George J. Andros - Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters S/Sgt. Lawrence B. Price - Air Medal Maj. John J. Erickson - Air Medal Capt. Carl E. Weidenmuller - Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, Silver Star, Purple Heart S/Sgt. George E. Smith - Purple Heart Col. James M. Walsh - Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, Silver Star Maj. Theodore M. Williams - Air Medal.
     

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15th Air Force personnel records and roster in World War II.

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